About the Withersfield Conservation Area
The Withersfield Conservation Area covers about 41 hectares and was designated by West Suffolk Council in 1973. Inside the boundary are 23 listed buildings (3 Grade II*, 20 Grade II). The most significant is Barn to Hall Farmhouse, Grade II*. Part of the area lies in flood zone 3, so an extension may need a flood risk assessment.
What changes inside the conservation area
Conservation areas are “Article 2(3) land”. You keep most permitted development rights, but these are removed or tightened.
- Rear extensionElsewhere: 3 m · 6 m with PANo 6 m / 8 m prior approval
- Two-storey extensionElsewhere: 3 mNeeds planning permission
- Side extensionElsewhere: Half the widthNeeds planning permission
- Loft conversionElsewhere: 50 m³Needs planning permission
- Garden roomElsewhere: 2.5 m high by boundariesNot beside the house
- PorchElsewhere: 3 m²Same limits
- Solar panelsElsewhere: 0.2 m projectionSame limits
- Air source heat pumpElsewhere: 1 unitNot facing the road
- Fences, walls and gatesElsewhere: 2 m · 1 m by a roadSame limits
- External claddingElsewhere: Matching materialsNeeds planning permission
- Tree workElsewhere: No notice6 weeks’ notice to the council
- Demolition (over 115 m³)Elsewhere: AllowedNeeds planning permission
Limits for a semi-detached house under the GPDO 2015. An Article 4 direction can remove more.
Listed buildings in the conservation area
Any work affecting these needs listed building consent, inside or out. Each links to its entry on the National Heritage List.
- Barn to Hall FarmhouseGrade II*
- Church of St MaryGrade II*
- Jacobs ManorGrade II*
- 13,14 and 14A, Church StreetGrade II
- CartrefGrade II
- Charity FarmhouseGrade II
- Church FarmhouseGrade II
- Coronation CottageGrade II
- Elm LeaGrade II
- Four Cottages Immediately West of Little ThatchGrade II
- GuildhallGrade II
- Hall FarmhouseGrade II
- Lilley's FarmhouseGrade II
- Little ThatchGrade II
- Long Cottage and Sunbeam CottageGrade II
- Numbers 2 and 4 Jasmine CottageGrade II
- The CottageGrade II
- The GrangeGrade II
- Turnpike HouseGrade II
- White Horse InnGrade II
- WhitehallGrade II
- Willow CottageGrade II
- Withersfield War MemorialGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBWithersfield Conservation Area AppraisalWest Suffolk Council’s description of the area’s character — what planners look at when you apply.Open on council site ↗Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from West Suffolk Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.